WannaCry Ransomware seems to have appeared out of the blue. Because of it thousands of people have searched the internet to find out how to disable SMB on their Microsoft Windows based Servers and Workstations and Personal Computers. Thousands had dropped by Uniquely Toronto to read out posts which provided details on ways to disable SMB v1.0.

Now Adylkuzz is running another major attack which is underway and uses the SMB vulnerability in Windows.

“US-CERT cautions users and administrators that disabling or blocking SMB may create problems by obstructing access to shared files, data, or devices. The benefits of mitigation should be weighed against potential disruptions to users. For more information on SMB, please review Microsoft Security Advisories 2696547 (link is external) and 204279 (link is external).”

Disclaimer: Everything in the post above is subject to change without notice. There could be unintentional errors. Please confirm all info via the linked to websites and web pages. Please install the Microsoft Windows MS17-010 Security Update (see link above). Best Practice is to also always create daily backups

AnyLouder.com has posted a new interview with Alannah Myles. Guess what, she has been working on a new album while running her own record label.

Alannah Myles holds a special spot with me. She is a gifted Singer and Songwriter. Love the music that she created. When I first started shooting concerts again and posting to the internet, I had shot her concert at Woodbine Park (2011 I believe). The photo at the top of this post was taken at that concert.

After her set, the crowd went nuts when they saw her walking towards her car, which was parked by the north side of the stage.The next act was playing on stage and they looked flustered at all the noise the crowd was making. The audience was no longer watching the stage. They were looking and pointing to the car park area beside the stage.

Anyhow, after the concert I had sent some pics to her at the official Alannah Myles facebook page. She started to follow my facebook page (Alannah’s car license plate gave her away – I won’t say any more). I was using CLiK CLiK Vic because I had a Zenfolio website with that name. She mentioned my website and facebook page a number of times on her facebook page. That was an extraordinarily kind gesture on her part. In the meantime, I had become addicted to following her facebook page. Alannah Myles is simply awesome. Really looking forward to her new Blues album.

It has been a while since I posted about Cyber Security. Last year’s round of posts were very well received. We even had a major Cyber Security firm linking to our posts.

What a “coincidence“, back in March of this year Microsoft patched a whole bunch of security holes in assorted Windows Operating Systems. On Friday, April the 14th 2017, a Hacker group called the Shadow Brokers released a ton of NSA developed weaponized software Exploits and Malware which allowed the NSA to break into computers around the globe. Not just break in, but potentially to also take control of computers running Windows Operating Systems prior to Windows 10. The Friday, April 14th Easter Egg contained over 200 megabytes of code which was dropped on GitHub.

Yes, Microsoft released a Security Update (patches) In March 2017 for their Windows Operating Systems which plugged the Security Holes used by the code which Shadow Brokers made available to the whole wide world on April 14th 2017. The key question is, will users and Network Admins apply those patches? If the March 2017 release of Microsoft patches are not installed, the computers remain vulnerable, as the Exploit and Malware code is available to everyone from Newbie Wannabe to Elite Hacker. Just wait till modified versions start being used.

One of the most powerful NSA coded Malware released is called FuzzBunch. The video below is a demo (in a controlled test environment) of FuzzBunch breaking into a virtual install of Windows 2008 Server.

Spiceworks did a survey of Network Server Operating systems being used. Windows 2008 Server was installed on over 40% of the Windows Server installations. People are even still using Windows 2003 Server. Hey, if it works and ain’t broke, why upgrade.

I think that President Trump does make a valid point. For example, IT jobs are being outsourced to the Phillippines and India in both the U.S. and Canada. When I called my Canadian Internet Service Provider for Tech Support, I got to speak with some really nice ladies in the Philippines. Then they needed Bell Canada Tech Support to help further, and I got to speak to a guy in India.

Did a huge chunk of the Internet (mostly on the east coast of the U.S.A) disappear off the Internet today, because of President Trump’s speech later tonight?

If they were successful in shutting down Amazon’s Cloud Services which hosts a huge chunk of the Internet, that would have impacted President Trump’s speech. All focus would then have been on Amazon and their troubles with their Cloud and not on President Trump. I suspect that someone pulled the trigger “way too early” and Amazon was able to catch and mitigate. By the time President Trump started his speech, the Amazon / Internet / Cloud situation was no longer an issue.

Thanks to WordPress our uniquelytoronto.com website is still up, while a huge chunk of the internet has an Amazon Web Services’ S3 cloud storage headache due to experiencing “high error rates”.

Package Includes:3 Days / 2 Nights Hotel Accommodations at The Guest House at Graceland
Welcome Party With DJ, Food and Drinks
Attend a private acoustic storytellers performance by JOE WALSH, complete with
Q&A session at The Guest House Theater
Photo Op With JOE WALSH (Grouped By Package, Singles & Doubles)
After Party With DJ, Food and Drinks
Tour of Graceland
Autographed Photo of JOE WALSH
Exclusive Trip Laminate
Runaway Tours Custom Lanyard
Free Internet Access at hotel
Fully Escorted By Our Staff
All Taxes / Resort Fees Included
Limited Amount Of Packages Will Be Available Without Hotel Stay

PLEASE NOTE:This Trip Is Open To All Ages, Under 21 must be accompanied by an adult.
Local age restrictions apply. At events where alcohol is served, guests under 21
may not be admitted & no credit will be given.
All events, dates, show venue, party venue, etc. are subject to change at any
time at our sole discretion.
Travel packages do NOT include airfare or transportation to and from the
airport.
Bedding preferences are not guaranteed.

Disclaimer: Uniquely Toronto is not associated with Runaway Tours. Everything in this post is subject to change without notice. Do your Due Diligence and visit the official www.runawaytours.com site to confirm all details and for updates.

Last year I had posted about Kaspersky Lab reporting about a Bank exploit, where Russian Banks were targeted. Basically the Hackers were able to get Bank Accounting Staff to connect to a site where a keylogger and other Trojan Remote Control software was secretly uploaded and installed into “system RAM“, but not onto the Hard Disk or Network Storage. That allowed their remote control software (called Lurk) to be overlooked by Security Software, because Security Software usually scans stored files and not RAM. Once installed, the hackers could monitor the employees. When the employee went for lunch, they took over the PC and started to transfer funds around the world.

Earlier this year, Russian Authorities had arrested over 50 alleged Hackers who were alleged to be part of the group which targeted and Hacked into the Banks. The investigation into this group’s activities had been ongoing for years (at least since 2013). The Cisco Talos Security Webinar discussed the arrests and the aftermath. Cisco’s research seems to indicate that the same group was involved in other Internet Exploits. One of which was the Angler Ransomware.

Since the Russian arrests, certain malware has disappeared, along with certain DarkNet sites and BotNets. The Russian Authorities made the Internet a tad safer, at least for a short while.

Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always refer to the official sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice.

Since Time does not exist (yes that is true), the Hypothesis of what we consider to be our life being a Simulation, is possible.

What strikes me is that events occur in life and can repeat, giving one a chance to handle the event differently.

Timelines are predefined. When your timeline ends, you leave the simulation. An American female was in the Eaton Centre (Toronto) food court. Suddenly she felt ill and went outside. As soon as she left, a guy with a gun entered the food court and went to the spot where she had been sitting and started shooting people. Had she not left, she would have been shot dead.

About a month later, after returning back to the US, this same woman went to see the latest Batman Movie. As the movie started, a guy with a gun entered the theatre and started shooting people. She was shot dead. This is fact.

Checked on the internet and a Microsoft site suggested to uninstall all your Security software – Antivirus and Firewall as these may be preventing the completion.

Another non-Microsoft site suggested to disable Windows 7 updates (in control panel). I did that but it seems that the upgrade would never have gotten to 99%, if the Windows 7 Updates were the problem. I suspect that it was the Security Software was conflicting with the Windows 10 security software.

So I disabled Windows 7 updates. I uninstalled the firewall. I uninstalled the Antivirus. Restarted the Windows 10 upgrade. It worked.

There is also apparently a way to do the upgrade with a Windows 10 disk – via an ISO file download. I did not try that because if you mess up and end up doing a “clean install”, you may not get a “free” upgrade.

As for security, Windows 10 installs it’s own security software. I will check into how good it is and will probably install my own selected software.

Note, before you do the upgrade make sure that you have a backup or an image backup of your Windows 7 in case things go very wrong with the Windows 10 Upgrade. I used a free software program called System GoBack Free from Easeus. Click on this link to visit their web page.

Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always do your Due Diligence and refer to the official Microsoft sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice. What worked for me does not guarantee that it will work for you

The Balmuda Toaster is made in Japan.Years back the Japanese learned to be innovative. At one time Radios and Televisions were produced in the USA. The Japanese created better, more functional and easier to use products. Today, you will not find a USA made Television in any America home.

The Balumda Toaster is another example of Japanese innovation. There is a three month waiting list at Japanese retailers, who sell this item. Why? Because it is likely the best Toaster available.

The Balmuda Toaster uses both Steam and Low heat, which does not dry out the item being toasted. Then at the very end the heat is raised to crispen the outer surface.

In Japan they do not sell the pop-up variety of Toasters. Their Toasters lay flat and have a door and trays. That makes more sense since it makes it easier to clean.

By using Steam while toasting an item on low heat the item comes out smelling and tasting like it just came out of Bakers oven.

I was surprised (ok maybe not) that one could acquire one via Amazon.com. Amazon is the best thing that ever happened to retail. Great product variety. Great prices. A trusted retailer. The Balmuda Toaster is being sold by ORIDURU from JAPAN via amazon.com. Shipping is apparently free. ORIDURU from JAPAN has a 100% positive rating from past purchasers.

The price is not cheap. But then this apparently sells for 22,900 YEN which is a huge amount for a Toaster, even in Japan. Yet their production is sold out. In Japan, one would have to wait 3 month to get one.

So the price at Amazon.com is $414.60 US for the Black coloured model, as of today (subject to change without notice by Amazon). Yes they have stock. My suggestion would be to grab one, your morning toasted Bagel or Croissant will taste like you just brought it home fresh from a Bake Shop.

Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always refer to the official sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice. Any offers mentioned in this post are also subject to change without notice.
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Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always refer to the official sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice.

The Festival of Friends had record crowds that night. I heard numbers of about 70,000 fans. On the bill were The Sheepdogs and also City and Colour. Because of the huge number of people at that concert I left during City and Colour‘s set. There were cars parked on the main road all the way up to the QEW (or is it called Hwy 403 by Ancaster). I’m so glad that I left early. It must have been mayhem when over 70,000 would have left all together that night.

The concert was great. The Festival of Friends is an amazing Festival. Wish that someone could copy it in Toronto. Well worth the drive to Ancaster every year. Free entry and cheap parking fee. Normally there is lots of parking. The night The Sheepdogs played in 2011 there was no parking. The lot was jammed. the roads were jammed. I did not see any parking tickets on the vehicles parked outside the FoF grounds, so even the Police were cool. Was a fun day and evening back i.n 2011.

You can view the photos from the Main Menu at the top of the Home page. The last Menu item is called Vincent Banial Photography Portfolio. Click on that to get you there.

Ok, to make it easier, just click on the large thumbnail photo below to take you to The Sheepdogs photo gallery. Once in the Gallery just click on the square Thumbnail photos to view the enlarged photos.

Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. This post is subject to change without notice.

I had a set of photos of Diemonds performing at the eOne party posted on ccvic.zenfolio.com which is closed. Even Google sent me an email asking what was happening with all the 404 results, because their spiders were not finding anything on the our old zenfolio site.

I have the Flickr site up. There are things that I would change if I could, but it is a really fast site and there are tons of things which Flickr provides which are super.

I’ve posted the Diemonds photos into an album on our Flickr site. Just click on the photo above to get there.

Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. This post is subject to change without notice.

When I closed our CLiK CLiK Vic site at ccvic.zenfolio.com our library of photos went offline.

That in-turn affected some posts on this site. For example, the text of a post would come from WordPress but the photo would come from the Zenfolio site. That sped up load times for visitors.

I have setup two sites. One on Flickr and one on WordPress. Each host has it’s benefits. In the past I for some reason did not like Flickr. Having setup a quick site, I’m now impressed. It is no Zenfolio, but is impressive in it’s own right. First impression is that it is very fast.

The WordPress test site has been a battle to setup a structure that I want.

The watermark on older photos is still the ccvic.zenfoilio.com one. Will have to put all the pics thru Photoshop and remove that watermark layer and add a new one.

Both of the new sites use my name. It is something that I dislike doing. For example I think that calling this site “Uniquely Toronto” is far better than naming it Vincent Banial (or a variation with my name).

The Flickr site is called Vincent Banial. I know, it’s not very creative.

Copyright

If a specific photo is not our own, we will include a Photo Credit just below the photograph in the Caption area. Any such photos are either in the Public Domain, carry a Creative Commons license for Free use or are used with permission granted by said Copyright Holder.

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Uniquely Toronto and this blogsite are not affiliated with the City of Toronto, in any way.

The City of Toronto does "not" sponsor or endorse the Uniquely Toronto blog, or the Photos and Blog Posts found here.

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DISCLAIMER:
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All the articles on this site are for entertainment, educational and commentary purposes only, and as such are protected by Laws governing Free Speech. They are not intended to provide, nor replace, medical, health, legal, financial or other professional advice. Each person visiting our site must do their own Due Diligence and always speak with their own Licensed Medical and or Licensed Financial Professional.

In 2017 I have started to post about Medical Cannabis. FDA Disclaimer: The statements on this site have not been evaluated by the US FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Your Licensed Medical Doctor must be consulted before
starting any form of treatment.

The information which is posted on the Uniquely Toronto blog should NEVER be considered as being professional medical advice. Vincent Banial is not a Licensed Medical Doctor. As was mentioned earlier in this Disclaimer, all the articles on this site are for entertainment, educational and commentary purposes only.

Anything posted on this Blog is subject to change without notice. I report on events over which I have no control. Stuff happens and things are always subject to change without notice (like life itself).

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Blog posts may contain unintentional errors and or omissions. Please inform me of any errors that you may find on the blog. Our email address is at the top of the blog.

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